The Sydney Roosters have not lost since Sam Walker and Luke Keary's positional swap, but the former says their eight-game winning streak counts for little now that the finals series is underway.
The Roosters' transformation from mid-ladder mediocrity to potential premiers has coincided with Walker's switch to halfback, allowing Keary to return to his preferred position of five-eighth.
The halfback and five-eighth's chemistry varies from club to club in the NRL with premiers Penrith using Nathan Cleary as a traditional game-managing half while Melbourne's Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes both take on the tactical kicking roles traditionally delegated to the halfback.
"Every team's a bit different, just the style they play," Keary said.
But at the Roosters, Keary says the roles are very much distinct.
"You're doing a different job," he said.
The positional shift has allowed Walker to oversee the bulk of long kicking duties; Keary is kicking for an average of 141 metres per game since the switch as compared to 328 per game at halfback.
A halfback in his junior years, Walker is thriving with the added responsibility, having recorded more try assists in his nine games at halfback than in his 15 at five-eighth.
"It's probably more natural for him," Keary said of the switch.
"He gets a lot of the kicking done, he can inject himself at different times.
"He doesn't have to be on the ball the whole game."
Walker said it had been a relief to return to the right side of the field.
"We definitely started the year off slowly but I feel really comfortable now back on the right-hand side, building up combinations with my outside men," he said.
But Walker said weeks of chemistry between he and Keary would count for little if the Roosters are unable to overcome their traditional rivals South Sydney in Sunday's elimination final.
"We've worked so hard all year but now it's time to let all that go," he said.
"It doesn't matter what's happened previously. All that matters is what happens this Sunday."